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Clip: Not afraid to stand alone:http://salamottawaforum.googlepages.com/NotAfraidtroStandalone.mp3
Clip:Silent victims Discussionhttp://salamottawaforum.googlepages.com/Silent_victims_Lula_Adam_ML.mp3Silent victims in Ottawa’s shelter crisis by Sr. Lula Adam
The headline, “Thousands turned away from Ottawa women’s shelters,” on the front page of the Oct. 7 issue of the Ottawa Citizen has elicited shock and concern. Many question how it is possible that over 5,000 women seeking safe haven are turned away each year from local women’s shelters. As shocking as this number is, it is an incomplete picture. Many of hese women who are turned away have children. If it is difficult to find a bed for one woman, imagine how difficult it is to find multiple beds for a woman with five children. We are not only turning away women—we are also turning away their children. In some cases temporary shelter is found for women who escape violence with their children, however other children are being condemned to remain in homes that are not safe. Children are being reared in homes that are infested with a societal disease called violence. This disease has infected our community and it threatens the future of our nation. Violence against women when witnessed by children is also child abuse. Additionally it is a drain on our community’s human, financial and future resources. Without community support, children who witness such violence may be caught in a cycle that leads them to believe that violence is the most effective communication tool. Whether these children grow up to become victims or perpetrators of violence, the larger community is deeply affected.
Yes, it is shocking that thousands of women are being turned away from shelters. What is also appalling is that children are the silent victims in the shortage of shelter beds. These children do not have safe and nurturing upbringings, yet we as a community expect them, by some miracle, to grow up to be contributing members of society. According to Statistics Canada,domestic violence affects 7 per cent of women and their families in Ontario. Over 800,000 women in Ontario living in a common-law or marital relationship experienced physical and/or sexual assault by a spousal partner at least once during 2004 to 2006. And when we speak of violence against women, we are also speaking about the effect that violence has on their children. Children witness abuse in 40 per cent of violent relationships and 100 per cent of these children are impacted by the violence. If as a community we are unable to ensure the safety of every woman and child, then we need to invest in services within our community to support them. It is time to speak up for healthy homes, healthy communities and safe places for women and children. Our future—our children—depend upon it.
To learn more about violence against women and its impact on children please visit our website www.intervalhouseottawa.org

Lula Adam is the Public Education Coordinator of Interval House of Ottawa, a local shelter for women and children fleeing violence

Community Reviews: Brand New Halal Restaurant on 230 Herzberg Road Just off of Carling Avenue.Food type: Indo-Pak-Chinese Buffet. Price: Excellent. Features: Huge place, Comfortable, NO Alcohol! Excellent for families, and large groups.Menu: Lots of Items to choose from. Includes typical Indo-Pak-Chinese menu with a little bit of Thai.
Clip: Uighur Muslims of Western China: http://salamottawaforum.googlepages.com/UighurMuslimsofChina_Aljazeera.mp3The Plight of Muslims in China’s western Xinjiang province:
Officials in China’s western Xinjiang province have stepped up pressure on the region’s ethnic Uighur population during the holy month of Ramadan, and against other day-to-day Muslim practices. You can send a protesting email to the Chinese embasy here in Ottawa. chinaemb_ca@mfa.gov.cn